BalikbayanExpat

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐓? 🇵🇭🥚😂

Balut is a fertilized duck egg that has been incubated for about 14–21 days and then cooked, usually by boiling. It’s one of the most famous street foods (and conversation starters!) in the Philippines.

My husband, whom I’ve been with for over 30 years, absolutely LOVES balut. The first time he tried it was in Las Vegas in the mid 90s, and ever since then, he's always enjoyed it. Of all the Filipino foods he could have fallen in love with, he picked balut! What a strange man. 😂

As for me, a Filipina, I eat everything except the embryo. I love the yolk and especially the flavorful broth inside. 😋

If you’re planning to visit or move to the Philippines, trying balut is almost a rite of passage. You’ll either love it, hate it, or spend five minutes staring at it while questioning your life choices. 🤣

Have you ever tried balut? If so, were you brave enough to finish the whole thing? 🇵🇭

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨 & 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 🇵🇭
How to Find a Long-Term Apartment Rental (6+ Months).

If you’ve joined expat groups or watched YouTube videos, most people will suggest starting with Facebook Marketplace. While it can be useful, the challenge is that you can never be completely sure if the person posting is legitimate. Unfortunately, scams do happen, and many expats still take the risk simply because they don’t have someone local in the Philippines to guide them.

Another option is to ask vloggers or other expats who have already rented in the Philippines. Many are willing to share their real estate agent’s contact details, and some may even introduce you directly, which can save you a lot of time and uncertainty.

If you find a good deal on Facebook Marketplace, never send full payment upfront. Always verify that you are dealing with the legal owner or a licensed property manager. Ask for proof of ownership, such as the property title or other supporting documents, before sending any money.

One of the best strategies is to book an Airbnb for 1 week to 1 month before your arrival in the Philippines. This gives you time on the ground to explore different neighborhoods, visit apartments in person, and meet landlords or realtors face-to-face before committing to a long-term lease.

You can also find rentals through word of mouth or even by simply driving or walking around. It’s common to see “For Rent” signs with a phone number outside buildings or houses. You can call directly, schedule a viewing, and sometimes even negotiate the rent—especially if you’re open to a longer lease or including utilities like Wi-Fi.

Here are some websites you can use to search for long-term rentals. In many cases, landlords may also be open to lowering the monthly rate if you sign a 1-year lease:

• Airbnb.com
• RentPad.com.ph
• DotProperty.com.ph
• Lamudi.com.ph
• TPLRentals.com

𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫. 🇵🇭

If you’ve never been to the Philippines, I’m here to tell you right now… it’s HOTTTT!!! 😂 Like ridiculously HOT. Temperatures can hit over 100 degrees with heat index and humidity, so imagine Las Vegas or Dubai summer weather — except with sticky tropical humidity instead of dry heat. You will sweat nonstop.

One reason Filipinos love hanging out at malls is because of the AirCon. A lot of people also prefer going out at night once the sun goes down because daytime heat can be intense.

Think Hawaii, Miami, the Caribbean, or any tropical island lifestyle. Since we live in Miami, we’ll basically be wearing the same type of clothes there. Weather in Cebu honestly feels like Miami summer year-round.

For men, lightweight dri-fit or moisture-wicking clothing is the way to go. Stick to shorts, breathable shirts, comfortable sneakers or sandals, plus a baseball cap and sunglasses. Heavy cotton shirts are a mistake—you’ll be soaked in sweat in minutes. A small towel is actually super useful to carry around. And keep in mind, not every restaurant or local spot has strong air-conditioning—many rely on electric fans—so you’ll still feel the heat even while eating indoors.

For women, think light, airy, and breathable. Sundresses, shorts, tank tops, and loose fabrics are perfect. A sunhat and sunglasses are must-haves. Honestly, there’s no need to waste luggage space on jackets, hoodies, boots, or long sleeves unless you’re heading somewhere like Baguio, where temperatures can drop into the low 60s.

If you’re planning island hopping or water activities in places like Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, or Siquijor, make sure to bring swimsuits, board shorts, a long-sleeve rash guard, sunscreen, water shoes, and a waterproof bag. You’ll use all of it.

And one thing you’ll learn quickly—always carry water with you. The heat drains you faster than you expect.

One unexpected bonus for us? We naturally lost weight without even trying 😂 Between all the sweating, walking more, staying active, and sometimes eating less because of the heat, we both noticed changes within a couple of months. We actually leaned out and abs more toned.

So if you’re trying to lose weight, be healthier, or just enjoy life more, don’t stay inside all day with the AC blasting. Go outside, walk around, explore, enjoy the beaches, the islands, the food, and the simple lifestyle. That’s part of the beauty of living in the Philippines. 🇵🇭🌴

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From November 2013 - French Kiss in on our 15th anniversary. 💋🥰❤️😍

📍Eiffel Tower, Paris, France! 🇫🇷

We had lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel(now Madame Beasserie) that was on the first floor of the tower with the spectacular, 360-degree panoramic view of Paris.

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From July 2015 - After going on so many private tours in , we went back to our hotel to relax & enjoy this view!

📍Sky Bar/Rooftop Bar, Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, 🇲🇾

This is a 5-Star Hotel & Shangri-La’s sister hotel.

𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞: 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐨, 𝐒𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐣𝐨𝐫 & 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐆𝐂.🇵🇭

Moving to the Philippines isn’t our first rodeo. We semi-retired in Boracay 11 years ago and lived there for about a year, so we already know the lifestyle and what to expect. This time, we’re fully retired, more prepared, and ready to truly enjoy life.

Why retire in just one place when we can comfortably slow travel and experience different islands along the way?

Our plan is simple: make Mactan Island our home base, buy a condo cash, and live debt free. From there, we want the freedom to spend 1–3 months at a time exploring different islands and cities while keeping the adventure going.

One thing we love about Mactan is how convenient it is. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport is only about 10 minutes away, making it easy to hop over to places like:

• Boracay
• Palawan
• Siargao
• Siquijor
• Bohol

And of course, travel all around SE Asia & Australia whenever we want. ✈️

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐉𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 🇵🇭

Most expats in the Philippines don’t own a car. Traffic can be a nightmare, so many choose to live in modern condo communities where you can simply walk to restaurants, grocery stores, cafes, gyms, and most daily necessities.

If you need to get around, transportation is very affordable. You can use Grab, taxis, buses, jeepneys, or tricycles. The cheapest and most iconic form of transportation is the Jeepney. Sadly, they’re usually not allowed inside newer modern developments like BGC, Makati & Mactan Newtown, so you’ll have to step outside the bubble to catch one.

To ride a Jeepney costs only about 17 pesos (around $0.25 USD) for the first 2.5 miles, making it one of the cheapest ways to get around the country.

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Jeepneys are the colorful, brightly decorated minibuses that became the backbone of public transportation in the Philippines. Born from the aftermath of World War II, they were created by resourceful Filipinos who transformed abandoned U.S. military jeeps into a transportation system that helped rebuild the country.

The Birth of the Jeepney (1945–1950s)

• After WWII ended in 1945, American forces left behind hundreds of surplus Willys and Ford military jeeps in the Philippines.

• With much of the country’s public transportation destroyed during the war, creative Filipino mechanics and welders repurposed these vehicles by extending the body, adding a roof for shade, and installing long parallel benches to carry more passengers.

• The word “Jeepney” comes from combining “Jeep” and “Jitney,” an old American slang term for a small bus or shared ride that charged low fares.

Today, are more than just transportation — they are a symbol of creativity, resilience, and culture. 🇵🇭

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧… ✈️🌴🇵🇭

Retired, Not Expired: From Miami Beach Life to Philippine Island Life 🇵🇭

For us, retirement simply means one thing—being on vacation every single day. More freedom, more adventures, and more time to actually enjoy life. Even in our 50s and 60s, we’re still fit, active, and more excited for this next chapter than ever.

People often say we look 20 years younger… and honestly, we feel it too. Well, most days anyway 😆 The body might disagree here and there, but our minds are already packed, prepared, and halfway on the plane.

Moving to Mactan Island won’t feel like a big adjustment for us. We’re already used to the tropical heat, humidity, flip-flops, tank tops, and swimsuit lifestyle here in Miami. So in many ways, it’ll just be paradise—with a different view 🌊☀️

No more alarms.
No more work schedules.
No more rushing through life.

Just slow mornings, island hopping, good food, beach days, and meeting amazing people while exploring the beauty of the Philippines 🏝️

This next chapter is about slowing down, living lighter, and making meaningful memories while we still can. And yes… probably living in flip-flops 24/7 😂

Retirement mode: ACTIVATED 🍹✈️

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐔𝐒 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 🇵🇭

If you’re planning to live overseas long term, keeping your U.S. phone number and a reliable U.S. mailing address is extremely important — especially for two-factor authentication (2FA) and OTP verification codes.

Many banks, credit cards, government agencies, and online accounts still require a U.S. number for verification, including:

* Banking apps
* Credit cards
* Social Security
* IRS & taxes
* Retirement & pension accounts

The good news is you do NOT need to keep paying $55+ a month with providers like T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T just to keep your number active.

You can port your existing number to lower-cost prepaid carriers like Tello or Mint Mobile and pay around $15/month or less when prepaid for 6–12 months. Your number stays active, and you can still receive texts and verification codes using Wi-Fi calling while abroad.

📬 U.S. Mailing Address Tips

For important documents such as:

* Driver’s license
* Banking
* Social Security
* Pension accounts

…it’s best to use the address of a trusted family member or close friend in the U.S.

For regular mail and packages, many expats use a Virtual Mailbox service starting around $15/month.

📪 What is a Virtual Mailbox?

A virtual mailbox company receives your mail and scans the outside of each envelope so you can view it online from anywhere in the world.

You can then choose to:

* Open and scan the contents
* Forward the mail internationally
* Shred unwanted mail
* Store packages temporarily

Most services also offer easy-to-use apps for both iPhone and Android, making it convenient for long-term travelers and expats living abroad.

Having both a U.S. phone number and U.S. mailing address helps make it appear as if you never left the country — which can make banking, verification codes, account security, and other financial services much smoother while living overseas.